From the Classroom to City Hall: My Internship Experience at Jubilee Housing
— By Malcolm Rosenthal
Arriving at Jubilee, I was excited to learn the details of housing policy and how an affordable housing developer interacts with real-life policy.
I wondered:
- How does Jubilee advocate for its priorities?
- What happens when DC changes or cuts a program?
I wanted to see how politics impacts lives beyond the classroom, and being on the ground with a local nonprofit like Jubilee was the perfect way to learn.
This summer has been a great time to dive into DC housing policy. In May, Jubilee testified on the RENTAL Act, legislation to change parts of the rental housing environment in DC. I was able to speak as part of our advocacy, connecting my own experience trying to find housing as a college student with Jubilee’s work to expand affordable housing in Ward 1 and the need for continued investment citywide. Testifying before the Council was an unexpected but incredible opportunity.
I also quickly realized Jubilee’s policy work extends well beyond housing. We are equally engaged in reentry [which supports individuals returning from home from incarceration] and afterschool policy. These focuses became central during DC’s budget season.
In External Affairs, we track the budget process, set funding priorities with coalition partners, and support Jubilee employees in preparing testimony about their work and its impact. One of my roles was drafting testimony, listening to people’s experiences with city programs, and linking them to policy and funding. This deepened my understanding of how even small programs, like Safe at Home for seniors, can make a big difference.
Another highlight was attending three advocacy days at DC’s City Hall with the DC Out-of-School Time Coalition and The Coalition (formerly CNHED). We met with council members and staff, sharing stories and advocating for stable funding for youth programs and more resources for affordable housing. A few Jubilee residents even shared their experiences directly, embodying our “with, not for” approach to resident advocacy as described by Jubilee’s, Tyrell Holcomb, VP of External Affairs.
My time at Jubilee taught me so much about housing policy, reentry and afterschool programs, and the importance of coupling housing with supportive services. Most of all, I have seen how deeply Jubilee’s staff and residents care about making lives better. I’m leaving Jubilee inspired to continue improving housing, strengthening services, and creating more vibrant neighborhoods.
About Me
I have served as the Public Policy and Advocacy Intern in Jubilee Housing’s External Affairs department. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, I am a rising senior at American University in Washington, DC, studying Political Science and Public Administration. Passionate about policy, local DC politics, and housing, I spent the summer at Jubilee working at the intersection of all three.